Chery names its first bakkie Grootman
Chery has named its first bakkie for South Africa Grootman, a name chosen by South Africans. The model is planned to make its local debut in the first quarter of 2027.
- Product News
- 2 October 2026
The 29th George Old Car Show, the biggest show for old and veteran cars in the country, will take place on Saturday, 14 February 2026 at the Eden Technical High School in George.
The Southern Cape Old Car Club, organisers of the show, cordially invites all veteran car clubs and classic car owners to participate in this annual celebration of motoring history, engineering ingenuity and timeless automotive beauty.
Scheduled for Valentine’s Day next year, the 2026 George Old Car Show will not only showcase South Africa’s love and appreciation of old and classic cars but will also pay homage to the Pioneers of Motoring, honouring the 140th anniversary of the invention of the horseless motor carriage by Carl Benz in 1886.
To commemorate this historic, world changing occasion, visitors will be treated to a special exhibition of early Benz vehicles that pioneered modern motorcars, including replicas of the 1886 Benz Patent-Motorwagen, the 1901 Benz Ideal and the 1913 Benz 8/20 PS Tourenwagen.
Simultaneously, the show will celebrate the 130th anniversary of the first motor vehicle, a Benz Velo, arriving in South Africa. Imported by John Percy Hess, who later became the sole agent for Benz in the country, the car was shipped from Germany to Port Elizabeth in late 1896 and then transported to Pretoria.
The show will also celebrate the 100th anniversary of the formation of Mercedes-Benz in 1926, when the predecessor companies Daimler-Motoren-Gesellschaft and Benz & Cie merged to form Daimler-Benz AG with an exclusive exhibition of pre-World War II Mercedes-Benz cars.
Among the exhibited highlights proudly representing the evolution of the legendary marque, will be a 1935 Mercedes-Benz W23 130H, a 1938 Mercedes-Benz W142 Type 320 and a 1935 Mercedes-Benz 500K Roadster. These classics will be joined by a selection of exclusive post-War Mercedes-Benz models, presented by the Mercedes-Benz Club of South Africa, as part of its activities commemorating its 40th anniversary.
Celebrating its 20th anniversary, the Vettoer, organised by Philip Kuschke, will again precede the George Old Car Show on Friday, 13 February 2026. Reserved for vehicles manufactured without front brakes, this prestigious tour is an iconic tradition strongly supported by the Model T Ford Club of South Africa.
In a symbolic tribute to motoring’s origins, the organisers are planning to have the Benz Patent-Motorwagen lead the line-up of participating vehicles when they depart, alongside fascinating entries, including a Stanley Steamer and a selection of interesting veteran motorcycles.
Chery has named its first bakkie for South Africa Grootman, a name chosen by South Africans. The model is planned to make its local debut in the first quarter of 2027.
Netcare Diagnostics (a Netcare Group business) is introducing its first fully electric vehicles to its transport fleet, starting with shorter urban routes for collecting patient pathology specimens.
South Africa’s new vehicle market recorded aggregate domestic sales of 61 645 units in September 2026, an increase of 12.7% compared with the 54 706 units sold during September 2025.
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Have you ever noticed that anybody driving slower than you is an idiot, and anyone going faster than you is a maniac?
George Carlin
Netcare Diagnostics (a Netcare Group business) is introducing its first fully electric vehicles to its transport fleet, starting with shorter urban routes for collecting patient pathology specimens.
South Africa’s new vehicle market recorded aggregate domestic sales of 61 645 units in September 2026, an increase of 12.7% compared with the 54 706 units sold during September 2025.
SA Auto Week 2026 is scheduled to take place in eThekwini, KwaZulu-Natal, from 13 to 16 October, with the event marking five years of SA Auto Week.